382 
9 
JUNE 8 
Beat as comfortable as possible, and, gazing 
out of the window at the flying trees and 
fields, surrendered himself to the novelty 
of the situation. When the conductor came 
along. Mr. Holton found some gratification 
in displaying, ostentatiously, bis hundred 
dollar greenback and thick roll of smaller 
bill, us he took out his ticket. He noticed 
that a few stared at. him rather curiously as 
he did this, but he did /lot observe the sharp, 
eager glance of u respectable looking, rattier 
young and very meek appearing man who 
eat on the opposite side of the car. It was 
not long before the meek appearing man 
rose, wit h a yawn and a stretch, and accost¬ 
ed Mr. Holton. 
“Pretty tedious work,’’ he said, wearily, 
“traveling three days and three nights 
without stopping.” 
“ Yes,” said Mr. Bolton, “ I should think 
it would be." 
“Awful!” said the man. “I beg your 
pardon, is this seat occupied? The sun 
comes In the other side so, that I’ll sit 
with you, if you have no objections?” 
“Oh, no!” said Mr. Holton, affably 
The man’s tone and manner seemed to 
convey a little covert homage to Ids impos¬ 
ing appearance, and he made room for him. 
“ Going to the city!” asked the stranger. 
“Yes—to New York.” 
“ Beautiful Tract of country we are pass¬ 
ing through.” 
“ Yes, we have some very good farming 
lands.” 
“i should judge, too, that they were in 
the right hands to make the most of them,” 
said the stranger, significantly. “ I’ll wager 
anything that the people in this section are 
intelligent and shrewd.” 
“ Well, perhaps so,” said Mr. Holton. 
“Oh, I know it. I infer that you live 
about here. I saw you gel aboard.” 
“Yes, but 1 am not a farmer." 
“That may lie. Hut the presence of en¬ 
terprising and wide-awake men has an im¬ 
mense influence over a community. Indus¬ 
try is encouraged, and all that, you know.” 
“ Well, you may be right,” replied Mr. 
Bolton, with a slight smile and inflat ion 
of his chest. 
“Going to buy goods?" asked the stran¬ 
ger. 
“No. I thought I would run down and 
take a look at the city for a few days.” 
“ Oh! well, its a pretty good sized town ” 
—in a facetious tone. 
“You are right, there,” replied Mr. Bol¬ 
ton, laughing, as if the metropolis were 
as familiar to him as the handwriting of 
his numerous debtors. 
“ Well, 1 shall be your companion nearly 
to New York. My name is Grabber. Yours, 
if 1 might be so bold, is -" 
“Bolton, sir, Simon Holton.” 
“I am happ 3 T to know you, Mr. Bolton. 
We may find it agreeable to remain togeth¬ 
er until our journeys diverge.” 
“Certainly,” responded Mr. Bolton. 
“There is nothing like having an agreea¬ 
ble companion on a long journey,” said Mr. 
Grabber. “ And, by the waj', whore shall 
you stop. I am going on to-morrow. We 
may meet in the city.” 
“1 hadn’t thought of that yet,” said Mr. 
Bolton. “ I shall, of course, put up at tho 
best hotel." 
“ Of course. The Metropolitan is as good 
as any. If you wLIJ bo there to-morrow to¬ 
ward evening, 1 will meet you.” 
“ Very well,” said Mr. Bolton, “ 1 will 
stop at the Metropolitan." 
“ Any of the hack drivers will take you 
there.” 
“ Yes, I know it”—with a little upheaval 
of dignit}'. 
“ You are posted, I should judge,” said 
Mr. Grabber, with an adiniriug smile. *•* I 
should take you to be a man that couldn’t 
be hoodwinked ver}' easil}'." 
“ Well, without boasting-” 
“ Oh, yes. I don’t need anything to sat¬ 
isfy me on that point. I can see it in your 
eye." 
Thus the time was consumed with enter- 
tainiug conversation, and Mr. Bolton was 
highly pleased with his new acquaintance. 
He was charmingly frank, and the}' chatted 
together like old friends. After the lapse 
of an hour or so, Mr. Bolton noticed a 
gruff looking man, with a fierce, red mus¬ 
tache and a pair of glittering e 3 ’e-glassc 8 , 
come walking slowl 3 ' through the car, peer¬ 
ing into tho faces of tho passengers. He 
stopped suddenly and .scanned Mr. Grab¬ 
ber intently. Tho latter seemed a little 
uneasy under the scrutiny. 
The gruff looking man took a document 
from his pocket and briefly inspected its 
contents. 
“ Is your name Grabber?” he demand¬ 
ed, at length, looking up. 
“ Yes,” said Mr. Grabber, in apparent 
surprise. 
" I thought so. I have a little business 
with you. Will }'ou step this way ? ” 
SVlOOHE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER 
“ Oh, if you have an}- business with me,” 
said Mr. Grabber, courteously, "it can be 
transacted right here. The presence of my 
friend "—pointing to Mr. Bolton — “ need 
not interfere.” 
“Very well; suit yourself. I have a 
freight bill of a hundred and four dollars on 
those goods of yours.” 
“ A freight bill! ” 
“Yes, sir, a freight bill. I suppose you 
arc ready to pa 3 ’ it? " 
“ Your supposition is incorrect, sir. This 
is a pretty time to come to a man on such 
business. I’ll pay the freight when I get 
the goods,” 
“The goods will not go five miles further 
until the bill is paid,” said the gruff man, 
tlrml 3 r . 
“ By George! This is an outrage! ” 
“ Come, now, don’t get huffy, it won’t do 
an 3 T good.” 
“ Hut it is a very strange proceeding.” 
“ I have my instructions, which are to 
collect the bill. You had better pay it.” 
“Shouldn’t you call this a strange way of 
doing business ?” asked Mr. Grabber, 
turning to Mr. Holton. “ I bought a lot of 
goods at an assignee’s sale, up in the in¬ 
terior, and shipped them, supposing every¬ 
thing to be all right; and now t hey demand 
freight. It I had been expecting such a 
tiling, I would have been prepared. How¬ 
ever, I suppose it has got to be paid. See 
here, m>' friend " — turning to the freight 
agent i ’ll pay that bill, but you will have 
to take a check on a New York bank.” 
“Can’t do it.. The rules forbid us to 
take anything but currency.” 
“Rules be bothered!' - exclaimed Mr. 
Grabber, drawing from his pocket-book a 
cheek. “Take tills; it’s as good as the 
gold.” 
“ F presume it’s all right, but I can’t take 
it. If I was going through to the city, it 
might be different. Hut, as things are, it 
can’t be helped. Sorry.” 
“Then I’m in a bad fix,” said Mr. Grab¬ 
ber, gloomily. "But, Mr. Bolton, perhaps 
you can help me out. Here is a check for a 
hundred and fifty dollars on the Park Bank 
of New Ynrk. Jf you can advance mo a 
hundred and four dollars, I will leave the 
check in your hands, and you can draw the 
money when 3 r ou reach the city. You can 
hand me the balance to-morrow evening, 
at the Met ropolitan. 1 dislike to ask such 
a favor, hut I wouldn't mind allowing you 
a handsome percentage." 
“ It’s all right,” said Mr. Bolton. “ r will 
let. you have the money. A hundred and 
four dollars, is it? ” 
“ That is the auionut. I am a thousand 
times obliged. It will help me out of a 
most, embarrassing scrape.” 
“There are a hundred and five,” said Mr. 
Bolton, producing his hundred dollar 
greenback and a five dollar bill. 
“Thanks! Thanks! Can you give me a 
dollar, Mr. Agent ?”—handing him the two 
bills. 
“No, but wp can get. some small bills of 
the conductor, fie is in the forward ear.” 
“ We will wait till he comes through." 
“1 am sorry to have caused you so much 
trouble,” said the agent, “but you mustn't 
blame me. The Company's instructions 
have to be carried out.” 
" We will not discuss the matter," said 
Mr. Grabber, stifilv; “but 1 shall take care 
what line I patronize in the future. As for 
you, Mr. Bolton, I cannot find words to 
t hank you.” 
“ Don’t speak of it.” returned Mr. Bol¬ 
ton. “ I am always willing to accommodate 
a friend when it lies in my power.” 
The train was now approaching a station, 
and coming to a halt. 
•* Now will be a good time to see the con¬ 
ductor and get. the change,” said the agent. 
“ We might as well have everything straight 
at once.” 
“I'll go with him," said Mr. Grabber, in 
a low voice, to Mr. Bolton, “and make 
sure of tho dollar that’s corning to me.” 
Mr. Bolton saw them approach the con¬ 
ductor who had stepped out upon the plat¬ 
form in front of the depot. They spoke a 
few words to him, but lie shook his head. 
They then went into the ticket office. Mr. 
Bolton watched for their reappearance. 
Bui they wore detained an lilt accountably 
long time, l'.uaily the whistle sounded, 
and the t rain started, but the}* did not ap¬ 
pear. Mr. Holton grew anxious on his 
friend’s account. Ho opened the window 
and shouted, but to no effect. The speed 
with which the train was moving oil' in¬ 
creased until a good headway was attained 
It was not until then that the tardy ones 
appeared. They looked around wildly for 
a momeut, and then, as if tho truth had 
just dawned upon them, started on a run 
to catch the train. Mr. Bolton enoouraged 
them by wild gesticulations. But the chase 
was a vain one. They gave it up ufter the 
most frantic efforts, Mr. Grabber signify¬ 
ing by gestures that ho would be with Mr. 
Holton on the following day. 
“ Ail on account of that confounded 
freight agent," muttered Mr. Holton, 
drawing his tlushed and perspiring face in 
the window. 
“Friend left?” asked one, w r ho sat near 
him. 
“ Yes,’ growled Mr. Bolton shortly, 
wiping his brow. 
Ho was moody and taciturn for the re¬ 
mainder of the journey, and when the 
shades of night began to gather, composed 
himself as best he could and dropped off 
into a slumber. 
The night brought forth nothing worthy 
of note, /-bout eight o’clock in the morn¬ 
ing they were in the great city. Mr. Bor- 
ton Btretibrd himself, and alighted from 
the Cats, t he bust le and din deafened him 
almost to distraction. He took refuge be¬ 
hind a huge pile of trunks, and surveyed the 
lioUl. Ilk mind was soon made up, With 
I 
rapid strides be made his w'ay out of the 
scene of confusion, heedless of the hack- 
men’s frantic yells, and the eager offers of 
small boys to carry his satchel. 
He was soon in a narrow street, lined on 
either side with stores that presented an 
unprecedentedly busy appearance. Every¬ 
body* was in a hurry. ’ Mr. Bolton contem¬ 
plated his surroundings in wonder,but soon 
found that he must exercise all his wits to 
prevent being jostled off the sidewalk. The 
spirit of the place took posesslon of him, 
and he begun to walk at such a pace that 
the perspiration rolled from his brow in 
huge drops, and he panted furiously. He 
was proceeding at this unwonted gait when 
a placard in front of a clot hing store attract¬ 
ed his attention. He came to an abrupt 
halt, and read as follows: 
"Splendid Lot of Fashionable Clothes, 
Bought at a Bankrupt Sale, tnhc 
THs)io8ed of at a Sacrifice." 
“ Here’s a chance,” thought Mr. Bolton. 
I might as well have a coat of city cut, and 
no doubt on© cun be bought here cheap. I’ll 
go in.” 
He was met at tho door by an elegantly 
I dressed personage, with a smiling couute'- 
nanee. 
“Shall 1 show you something, sir?” asked 
the man politely. 
“ I don’t know,” replied Mr. Bolton; “ I 
thought if you had a coat-” 
‘•Coat ? Yes sir. We claim to have the 
best assortment of coats to be found in the 
city. You are just, in time, too, for they 
are going off like hot cakes." 
“ I want something stylish, you know.” 
“ Exactly. We don’t keep anything else. 
Just step this way. It wont do anv harm 
to look, even if you don't buy. But you 
will buy, if you are a man of taste, as I take 
you to bo.” 
Several coats were handed to Mr. Bolton, 
who tried them on. At. last, one seemed to 
fit. exactly*. 
“How much do you ask for this one?” 
“ Let rnc see— twenty-two dollars for that, 
and dirt cheap, too. They wholesaled three 
months ago for twenty-nine.” 
“ Did they?” asked Mr. Bolton. 
“ Yes; but the man who owned the stock 
was closed up, as you saw by the placard 
outside. Melancholy circumstances, too. 
But, sir, isn’t that a little tight under tho 
arms?” 
“I don’t know but it is,” said Mr. Bol¬ 
ton. working his shoulders back and forth. 
“It is, ns true as you live. We would 
rat her lose a sale, you'know, than not have 
everything just right. John, where is that 
Coat that Mr.C lemknt returned last night?” 
“Clement, the banker?” asked John, 
from the other end of the store.” 
“ Yes—the one who carries so much money 
with him all the time. Very careless of 
him, too, for he is liable to be robbed any 
time. The coat was a little too large for 
him. Find it, John, and bring it here.” 
“ Here it is,” said John, approaching with 
the desired article. 
“ I think it will just fit. you, sir. Try it 
on.” 
Mr. Bolton obeyed. The gentlemanly 
proprietor helped him to draw it. on, anil 
smoothed it. about the shoulders. 
“ Walk around a little—button it up—un¬ 
button it again work your arms- just see 
what a splendid tit, about, the chest—try tho 
pockets.” 
Mr. Bolton went through these succes¬ 
sive manoeuvres with great Complacency, 
when, happening to pat himself on tlie 
chest, somet hing startled him exceedingly. 
There was someth ing in the inside hi ea'st 
pocket ! After the first thrill of surprise 
he looked cautiously around at the proprie¬ 
tor aud clerk. But their attention was at 
that moment diverted to something else. 
Mr. Bolton hastily thrust his hand in 
the insid© breast pocket. Yes, there teas 
a wallet , and it was a good plump one, too! 
Here was a stroke of luck! Hail not the 
coat been returned by Mr. Clement, the 
banker, who was in the habit, of carrying 
money with him? Tho conclusion in Mr. 
Bolton's mind was obvious and instanta¬ 
neous. Evidently Mr. Clement had worn 
the coat for a day or two, and had forgotten 
to remove his pooketbook before return¬ 
ing it. 
Mr. Bolton was not the man to oast for¬ 
tune from him. No squeamishuess or 
qualms of conscience ever caused him to 
flee from good luck. He made up his mind 
that that coat should not leave his back. 
Who would ever be the wiser? 
“Well,” he said, trying to assume an in¬ 
different air, “ what do you ask for this gar¬ 
ment?” 
“I will sell that,” murmured the proprie¬ 
tor, slowly, as if entering into an abstruse 
mental calculation, “ for thirty-one dollars. 
And I make less than three dollars ou it at 
that. Mr. Clement was to have paid thir¬ 
ty-five.” 
“ I’ll take it,” said Mr. Bolton, prompt¬ 
ly. “ It’s u pretty heavy price, but then it, 
is such a good tit.” 
“Just so; excellent. Shall I do it up for 
3 ’ou ? ” 
“No. I'll keep it on,” said Mr. Bolton, 
hastily, “ But you may rlo up my old one, 
if you plpase.” 
“ Yob, sir. John, do up this gentleman’s 
old coat. Upon in}- word, sir, you look like 
Mr. Clem knt himself. It just Beta you off 
to perfection.” 
Mr. Bolton was not anxious to prolong 
the conversation, and, after hurriedly 
counting out the money, lie took his old 
coat under his arm and left the store. He 
proceeded rapidly up the street in a jubilant 
mood. 
Al't.r his joy hail calmed down somewhat, 
he began to consider his next proceeding. 
“ It won't do for me to remain in the cit y 
a great while,” he thought, “ for Mr. Clem¬ 
ent will discover his loss and make in¬ 
quiries. What if he should remember about 
the coat and trace it? 1 believe 1 will go 
to the l’ark Bank now and draw the money 
on that check. 1 might keep the whole of 
it and never go near the Metropolitan. But 
no; 1 told Grabber niv name and rod- 
donee, and he would follow me up. What a 
fool l was. T'H go now and draw the money.” 
By making numerous inquiries and tramp¬ 
ing many miles, as it seemed to him, 
through tho crowded streets, he at length 
found himself in front of the Park Bank. 
Entering, he passed the check over the 
counter to the paying teller. That func¬ 
tionary looked briefly and curiously at the 
piece of paper, and then scanned Mr. Bol¬ 
ton’s countenance closely. 
“ Where did you get this?” he asked. 
“What difference does that make?" de¬ 
manded Mr. Bolton, with some asperity. 
“ It makes a good deal *>f difference to 
you. It isn't worth anything.” 
“ What do you mean ? " asked Mr. Bol¬ 
ton. with a stare of surprise. 
“ The check is worthless.” 
“Worthless!” Mr. Bolton’s knees be¬ 
gan to quake. 
“ The person who signed it has no account 
here, where did you get It?” 
“ I cashed it for a friend on the cars,” 
faltered Mr. Bolton. 
“ A friend ! IIow long have vou known 
him?” 
“ Not long.” 
“ No—I should say not. My dear sir, }’ou 
have been swindled. J guess you don’t read 
the papers.” 
“ PaperB bo hanged! ” roared Mr. Bol¬ 
ton; “of course 1 don’t.” 
A shout, of laughter came from three or 
four bystanders at this. 
“ What the devil are you laughing at, I 
should like to know?” demanded Mr. Bol¬ 
ton. “ Here, give rue the check. I shall 
see Grabber this afternoon. He is to meet 
me at f hr Metropolitan.” 
“ r hope you won't hold your breath till 
he comes," remarked a policeman, who had 
been attracted by the slight confusion that, 
had occurred. “ Como here, and I’ll put a 
flea in your ear.” 
Mr. Bolton, with a rueful Countenance, 
walked out with the policeman, who in¬ 
formed him that Mr. Grabber was one of » 
class of swindler* who make a practice of 
picking up acquaintances on the cars, and 
obtaining money from them by means of 
fraudulent checks and other documents. 
He also heard, to his great astonishment, 
that Mr. Grabber and the freight agont 
wore confederates; that they had probably 
divided the spoils, and were, very likely, at 
that ver}- moment, in some far off locality, 
playing the same game on other unsuspect¬ 
ing parties. 
Mr. Bolton whs amazed, horrified, and 
utterly cast down by his loss. He soon 
parted from tho policeman, and made Ids 
way, wit h a heavy heart, to the Metropoli¬ 
tan Hotel. He st ill cherished a forlorn hope 
that GRAnriKR would meet, him, according 
to appoint mont. ()f course, ho was doomed 
to disappointment. 
“Any how,” he reflected, “Mr. Clem¬ 
ent’s pocket-book may make me whole.” 
Immediately on arriving at the hotel, ho 
asked to be shown to a private room, and 
when once within its walls, tremblingly 
drew the wallet from the pocket of his new 
coat. First taking the precaution to hang 
his hat over the keyhole of t he door, he sat 
down to a table, arid opened the supposed 
treasure with quivering fingers. 
Horror of horrors! Jl was filled with 
worthless scraps of paper! Nothing bear¬ 
ing t he remotest resemblance to a bank not© 
met, his expectant, vision! He almost 
swooned away as he gasped: — “Another 
swindle!” 
For several minutes he sat, iu a sort, of 
stupor, after recovering from which, ho 
mounted angrily to his feet. lie would go 
forthwit h to the clothing store, boldly ac¬ 
cuse them of placing ( lie empty pocket-brink 
in the coat as a bait to tempt purchasers, 
and demand reimbursement, for the money 
lie had spent. But, here another considera¬ 
tion presented itself. He would have to 
confess that he had bought the coat with 
the expectation of obtaining what did not 
lawfully belong to him, and thus place him¬ 
self on a par with those who had so success¬ 
fully appealed to his cupidity. That would 
never do. He groaned aloud as ho contem¬ 
plated his helpless situation. 
Tt soon occurred to Mr. Bolton to inves¬ 
tigate the state of his finances. Ho found 
that after having paid his fare to Nerv York, 
cashed the check and bought the coat, lie 
had only a trifle over thirty dollars remain¬ 
ing. This would not be more than sufficient 
to keep him at the Metropolitan for two or 
three da.ys and take him home again. Ha 
groaned in bitterness of spirit, and resolved 
to return to Danbury without delay. 
Whom, among tho depraved denizens of 
the metropolis and the piratical traveling 
public, could he trust? They would cheat 
him out of his skin, next! 
With such thoughts coursing through his 
brain, lie made inquiries concerning the 
railroad trains, and before night was speed¬ 
ing homeward as fast as the fastest express 
train could carry him. He resolutely kept 
his own counsel on this journey,and resist¬ 
ed all attempts at conversation on tho part, 
of his fellow travelers, even to a mild in¬ 
quiry from a weary looking woman with 
live children : *s to wliat time the train 
would reach Blnnkville. 
We pass over his reception on his arrival 
home, and t he account, he gave of ins ad¬ 
ventures. It may be proper to remark, 
however, that wituin a week he subscribed 
for the Bubal New-Yorke'., ms own local 
paper and a cit}’ daiW. Ho hopes to keep 
posted hereafter in regard to tho progress 
and doings, mo devices and snares of this 
wdcA ./i world. 
